Spray-dry synthesis of β-Cu1.8Zn0.2V2O7 ceramic fine particles showing giant negative thermal expansion

We used spray-dry method to synthesize fine powder of β-Cu_1.8Zn_0.2V₂O₇ showing large negative thermal expansion (NTE) linearly to temperature over a wide temperature range. The NTE of β-Cu_1.8Zn_0.2V₂O₇ is produced by microstructures consisting of voids and anisotropic thermal deformation of crystal grains in ceramics. By reducing the size of the microstructures that produce NTE, large NTE equivalent to that of bulk was realized, even for ceramic particles of about 2 μm size. Comparison with particles produced using a conventional method demonstrates that the particle size distribution is narrow and that the particles are nearly spherical. This achievement is expected to pave the way to use of NTE materials in micrometer-scale control of thermal expansion.     

Decomposition of CCl2F2 over metal sulfate catalysts

Activity for hydrolysis of CCl₂F₂ (CFC12) on various metal sulfate was investigated. Zr(SO₄)₂ was found to be the most active while FeSO₄, Cr₂(SO₄)₃, Al₂(SO₄)₃, La₂(SO₄)₃ and Ce₂(SO₄)₃ had intermediate activity. MnSO₄, CoSO₄, and MgSO₄ showed low activity and SrSO₄, CaSO₄, and BaSO₄ had even less activity. The major carbon containing product was CO₂ and small amount of CClF₃ and CO were formed over several sulfates. The crystal structure of the sulfates was stable during decomposition of CCl₂F₂, and the conversion reached a steady state after initial decrease at 275 °C over Zr(SO₄)₂ catalyst. The concentration of surface hydroxyl was larger than that over AlPO₄-based catalysts and a reaction mechanism similar to that over AlPO₄-based catalysts was proposed.     

蒽-N，N-二甲基苯胺二元体系的荧光开关行为研究

通过Curtius重排反应,将高荧光量子产率的葸基团通过脲基连接在N,N-二甲基苯胺单元上,合成了二元给受电子体系9-（4-N,N-二甲胺基苯基）脲基葸（DMA—An）。选择性激发蒽单元,该二元体系发生从N,N-二甲基苯胺到蒽的光诱导电子转移反应（photoinduced electron transfer PET）,导致葸荧光猝灭。酸化使N,N-二甲基苯胺基质子化,PET过程受阻,DMA-An的荧光恢复。此时,向该体系中加入三乙胺可使DMA-An的荧光恢复至初始的猝灭状态。多次实验证明此荧光猝灭-增大过程是可逆的,即DMA—An的荧光随酸碱变化呈光开关on／off行为。     

Immobilization of alkaline phosphatase on magnetic particles by site-specific and covalent cross-linking catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase

Bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP) was site-specifically and covalently immobilized on magnetic particles (MPs) using the enzymatic reaction of microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Immobilization efficiency was affected by the chemical surface treatment of MPs and immobilized BAP exhibited more than 90% of the initial activity after 10 rounds of recycling.     

Simultaneous three-dimensional step-height measurement and high-resolution tomographic imaging with a spectral interferometric microscope

A noncontact, nonmechanical scanning, wide-field spectral interference microscope is developed for simultaneous measurement of three-dimensional step-height of discontinuous objects and tomographic imaging. A superluminescent diode (SLD) is used as a broadband light source and a liquid-crystal Fabry-Perot interferometer (LC-FPI) as a frequency-scanning device. By means of changing the injection current to the SLD, the spectral profile of the SLD is equalized, and a constant light input to the interferometer is achieved over the entire frequency-scan range. The Fourier-transform technique is used to determine both the amplitude and the phase of spectral fringe signals. Three-dimensional height distribution of a discontinuous object is obtained from the phase information, whereas optically sectioned images of the object are obtained either from the amplitude information alone or from the combination of both the amplitude and phase information. Experimental results with submicrometer resolution are presented for both step-height measurement and tomographic sectioning.     

Analytical tool development for coarse break-up of a molten jet in a deep water pool

A computer code JASMINE-pre was developed for the prediction of premixing conditions of fuel–coolant interactions and debris bed formation behavior relevant to severe accidents of light water reactors. In JASMINE-pre code, a melt model which consists of three components of sub-models for melt jet, melt particles and melt pool, is coupled with a two-phase flow model derived from ACE-3D code developed at JAERI. The melt jet and melt pool models are one-dimensional representations of a molten core stream falling into a water pool and a continuous melt body agglomerated on the bottom, respectively. The melt particles generated by the melt jet break-up are modeled based on a Lagrangian grouped particle concept. Additionally, a simplified model pmjet was developed which considers only steady state break-up of the melt jet, cooling and settlement of particles in a stationary water pool. The FARO corium quenching experiments with a saturation temperature water pool and a subcooled water pool were simulated with JASMINE-pre and pmjet. JASMINE-pre reproduced the pressurization and fragmentation behavior observed in the experiments with a reasonable accuracy. Also, the influences of model parameters on the pressurization and fragmentation were examined. The calculation results showed a quasi-steady state phase of melt jet break-up during which the amount of molten mass contained in the premixture was kept almost constant, and the steady state molten premixed masses evaluated by JASMINE-pre and pmjet agreed well.     

Acrobot control by learning the switching of multiple controllers

Reinforcement learning (RL) has been applied to constructing controllers for nonlinear systems in recent years. Since RL methods do not require an exact dynamics model of the controlled object, they have a higher flexibility and potential for adaptation to uncertain or nonstationary environments than methods based on traditional control theory. If the target system has a continuous state space whose dynamic characteristics are nonlinear, however, RL methods often suffer from unstable learning processes. For this reason, it is difficult to apply RL methods to control tasks in the real world. In order to overcome the disadvantage of RL methods, we propose an RL scheme combining multiple controllers, each of which is constructed based on traditional control theory. We then apply it to a swinging-up and stabilizing task of an acrobot with a limited torque, which is a typical but difficult task in the field of nonlinear control theory. Our simulation result showed that our method was able to realize stable learning and to achieve fairly good control.This work was presented, in part, at the 9th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 28–30, 2004     

Drug-induced pneumonitis caused by sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim during treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a patient with refractory ulcerative colitis

We recently treated a patient with intractable ulcerative colitis complicated with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in whom sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim caused pneumonitis. The pneumonitis was difficult to differentiate from worsening of the infection or the appearance of another opportunistic infection. The patient's history of sulfasalazine (sulfonamide)-induced pneumonitis made diagnosis possible. The CD4/CD8 ratio of lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was decreased at the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and this ratio had increased when drug-induced pneumonitis was diagnosed. Topical administration of beclomethasone dipropionate by enema was a safe and effective for the treatment of such a compromised patient with active colitis.     

Induction of ectopic corticotropic tumor in mouse embryos by exo utero cell transplantation and its effects on the fetal adrenal gland

To establish an in vivo experimental system for developmental endocrinology research, AtT-20 cells, a corticotropic tumor cell line, were transplanted by exo utero manipulation into mouse embryos on embryonic day 14. The induced tumor secreted ACTH in situ, and the circulating ACTH level was elevated. This was the first model for studying the regulation of ACTH in the mouse fetal adrenal in vivo and the first continuous ACTH treatment model in rodent fetuses. The changes in the adrenal gland from the tumor-induced embryos were analyzed by light microscopic morphometry, immunohistochemistry for steroidogenic enzymes, and electron microscopy. In the treated adrenal, the volume of the inner cortical zone was significantly larger than that in controls. In the inner zone, cell density was decreased, and average cell size was increased, whereas bromodeoxyuridine-incorporation was not increased. The enlarged inner zone cells expressed an enhanced level of cytochrome P45011beta, the corticosterone-synthesizing enzyme, and the serum corticosterone level was increased. Electron microscopy showed an active form of the organelles involved in steroidogenesis. These findings indicate that ACTH stimulates both adrenocortical hypertrophy and steroidogenesis in fetal mice. Potential perspectives of the novel paradigm in this research for molecular developmental endocrine study are discussed.     

Improvement of bitumen-waste product in leachability—Leachability of bitumen product containing BWR's evaporator concentrate

The method has been developed to improve the bitumen product which incorporates an evaporator concentrate from a BWR, with respect to the swelling and leaching. The leachability of the product has been measured by the method recommended by the IAEA. The swelling of the product is successfully prevented by the addition of calcium chloride. The specimen containing the waste up to Wa/B (Weight ratio of Na₂SO₄ + CaCl₂ and bitumen) = 60:40 shows no pronounced swelling, when it is immersed in water. The cumulative fractions of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co leached from a specimen which does not contain CaCl₂ are 0.65 and 0.2 at the leaching time of 30 days. On the hand, the corresponding value at 100 days for the specimen with calcium chloride addition is 5 × 10^?4 for ¹³⁷Cs and 1 × 10^?4 for ⁶⁰Co. The coating of the specimen surface with a fresh bitumen (5 mm thickness) reduces the leachability further. These results indicate that this method is effective to improve the bitumen product incorporating BWR's evaporator concentrate.